Center of the Universe Festival back for 2nd year with more bands, more stages

12:24 PM, Feb 27, 2014

8:21 PM, Feb 27, 2014

Changes to Center of the Universe Festival

KJRH

center of the universe changes

KJRH

Center of the Universe Festival back for 2nd year with more bands, more stages

KJRH

Center of the Universe festival

TULSA - The co-founders of the Center of the Universe Festival announced this year's lineup Thursday along with changes to the second event.

The festival is July 25 and 26 in the Brady Arts District.

In 2013, in addition to general admission and VIP ticketing, the festival offered free admission. In 2014, that will go away.

Tickets start at $20 for single night general admission tickets through April 30, then $25 through July 11 and $35 beginning July 12. Weekend passes are $35, $40 and $50 depending on when they are purchased.

VIP tickets are between $150 and $200 and include access to the VIP lounge inside Cain's Ballroom and access to the main stage VIP viewing area in front of Cain's Ballroom.

Co-founder Chis Lieberman says the change allows the festival to attract more bands and provide a greater range of acts.

"It became evident after last year that to provide the lineup that people wanted, the great lineup that we announced, it was going to take a ticket that was paid," Lieberman said.

In 2013, 71 bands played live music in the Brady Arts District. This year, more than 100 bands will play, including AWOLNATION, Fitz & The Tantrums and twenty one pilots, who will all play on the main stage Friday, and Young the Giant, Capital Cities and Cold War Kids, who will play Saturday.

New this year, the Center of the Universe Festival will have a third outdoor stage. The Oklahoma Stage will feature a range artists from Oklahoma as a way of showcasing the Sooner State's own music scene.

Also new in 2014 is the EDM (electronic dance music) After Party at the main stage from 11:40 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.

Last year, Lieberman and co-founder Philip Kaiser expected 40,000 people at the weekend event. They ended up with 80,000.

This year, both say they expect to sell out and again reach that 80,000-person benchmark.

Center of the Universe is a non-profit event. Kaiser says much the funding raised will go right back into the Brady's trolley service, which they hope to expand.

Lieberman adds that much of the money will also go toward attracting and retaining artists and musicians who want to move to the Brady Arts District and call it home.

"We do plan on developing programs to attract and support musicians and artists to come to the Brady Arts District and make Tulsa their base to conduct their business of art and music. We think that's important."